Pedal for pianofortes or organs.



Patented Sept. I0, I90I.

no. ss2,|9a.

w. H.l WEBS.

PEDAL FOR PIANDFUBTES 0R V( HNMNS.

(Applieltinn mnd Ich. 1, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. IIVERS, OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

PEDAL FOR PIANOFORTES OR ORGANS.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,198, dated September 10, 1901.

Application filed February l, 1901, Serial No. 45,633. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. IvEEs, residing at Dedham, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new land useful Improvement in Pedals, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of this invention is to obviate to a considerable extent the delay and trouble in removing the pedals of a pianoforte or organ, such delay and trouble being at present an objection of some moment when it becomes necessary, as is often the case, to withdraw the pedals from the instrument.

The pivot of the pedal of a pianoforte or organ is a cylindrical pin passed transversely through its shank, with the ends of the pin protruding from opposite sides of the latter and constituting trunnions, which are journaled in suitable uprights secured to the bottom board of the instrument. Heretofore these trunnion or journal pins have been secured in place by driving them forcibly into the hole in the pedal-shank, and when it becomes necessary to remove a pedal from the instrument certain portions of the latter must be detached to provide room for the purpose, for the reason that the aperture in the baserail which receives each pedal-shank is not sufficiently large to permit of passage through it of the protruding ends of the journal-pin. To enable the journal-pins to be readily and quickly removed from the pedal-shank and permit such shank to be withdrawn through the opening in the base-rail, and in so doing carry out the purpose of my present invention, I insert the pin in the shank of the pedal suiciently loose to permit of its ready removal, and I secure the pin in place by means of a set-screw, which screws through the shank and upon the pin.

It will readily be seen that to permit of removal of the pedal it is only necessary to remove the cap of the journal-box, raise the trunnions out of the latter, loosen the setscrew, and remove the pin from the shank, thus leaving the latter free to be withdrawn through the aperture in the base-rail. Should the set-screw become loosened accidentally, as might occur in rare instances, it may be tightened with a screw-driver, the blade of which may be inserted in an opening in the cap-plate of the journal-box over the head lof the screw.

The drawings accompanying this speciication represent in Figure l aplan, and in Figs. 2 and 3 vertical sections, of a pianofortepedal and itsvsupports containing my improvement. Fig. at denotes an isometric view of the pedal removed from the instrument and with the trunnion-pin in place within it.

In the drawings, 1 represents the bottom board of a pianoforte, and 2 one of the pedals thereof.

3 denotes the base-rail, and 4 the aperture in such rail, which permits of insertion of the shank 5 of the pedal, the upper boundary of such aperture constituting a stop to maintain the pedal in its normal or inactive position.

The journal-box is shown at 6 as composed of a base 7, secured to the bottom l, and a cap-plate 8, screwed upon it after the universal manner of journal-boxes.

The journal or trunnion pin is shown at 9 as extending horizontally and laterally loosely through the pedal-shank 5 and secured in place within the latter by a set-screw 10, which screws through the upper part of such shank and down upon the pin, the, protruding ends or trunnions of the latterbeing journaled in the journal-box 6. The opening in the cap-plate 8 of the journal-box for permitting of the insertion ofa screw-driver is shown at ll.

I do not broadly claim the independent pivoting of keysy or pedals nor detaehably fastening pedal-levers on a shaft by means of a screw, being well aware that these devices are old and described in United States patents; but

I claim- A pedal pivoted with a short independent pin loosely inserted therein, detachably fastened thereto by a set-screw and used with this pedal only, the aforesaid parts being constructed and arranged to permit the withdrawal of the pedal without disturbing the bearing-blocks substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAMI Il. IVERS.

Witnesses:

F. CURTIS, LUCY I. Ivens. 

